What does the chain of custody require?

• A. To preserve the integrity of evidence from seizure to presentation in court.
• B. To publish evidence on social media.
• C. To allow anyone to modify the evidence freely.
• D. To destroy evidence after use.

Answer: (A)

The chain of custody is about preserving the integrity of evidence from seizure to presentation in court. It requires a documented, unbroken record of every person who handles the evidence, every transfer, and every change in location or condition, along with proper packaging, labeling, and secure storage. This process ensures the evidence remains authentic and untampered, so what reaches the courtroom is the same item that was collected.

Publishing on social media would expose or reveal the material and undermine confidentiality. Allowing anyone to modify the evidence would destroy its integrity, making it unreliable. Destroying evidence defeats the purpose of collecting it in the first place.